(Washington, DC, - October 20, 2003)—The Democratic Leadership of both the Senate and House will join the minority caucuses in rolling out a major piece of health legislation aimed at addressing the disparity in health care around the country.  Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus’s Health Braintrust will be among the speakers at a Tuesday press conference which will present the legislation to the public.

Christensen, along with Members of the Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific American, and Native American Caucuses played a key role in crafting this legislation which among other things:

• Increases health coverage for minority Americans,
• increases the need for improved culturally and linguistically appropriate care, increases the diversity of the healthcare workforce,
• seeks to reduce the occurrence of disease and disease-related complications suffered disproportionately by minorities,
• seeks to improve minority health data collection and reporting,
• increases the accountability of departments responsible for minority health, and
• strengthens the institutions that provide care to minority populations.

“Most importantly for those of us in the Virgin Islands, this bill contains language that will lift the cap on Medicaid and will also treat us a state where critical funding is needed, said Delegate Christensen on Monday.

 Expected to speak at Tuesday’s Press Conference are Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Edward Kennedy, CBC Chair Elijah Cummings, APAC Chair Mike Honda, Native American Chair Frank Pallone, CHC Chair Ciro Rodriguez, CHC Health Chair Hilda Solis and Christensen. “The minority caucuses under the Democratic leadership have come together to make it very clear what we think needs to be done to address health care in our communities,” said Christensen.  “This bill is a great start, because for the first time it addresses the needs of many who fall outside of the safety net.  The legislation, however is more than a minority bill, it has at its core, elements that address the health and well-being of all Americans.”